Fracture traction device



April 10, 1945. H N 2,373,456

FRACTURE TRACTION DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY M ATTORNEYS.

A m, 1945. E. CHAPMAN I FRACTURE TRACTION DEVICE Filed Aug. 25, 1945 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS April lO, 1945. E CHAPMAN 2,373,456

FRACTURE TRACTION DEVI CE Filed Aug. 25, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 PatentedApr. 10, 1945 UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE reserves TRACTION DEVICEEverett Chapman, West Chester,- Pa. I Application August 25, 1943.Serial No. 4995941 11 Claims. (01. its- 4) This apparatus, asindicated,v comprises a frac ture traction device. More particularly,the invention includes a knock-down frame preferably of light materialwhich may be readily carried about when packed in small compass andwhich may be quickly assembled and mounted over a portion of a bedwherein a patient is confined for treatment of fractures. The frame maybe made of Douglas fir, or some similar light strong wood members, ormay be formed of light hollow metal elements serving as the supportingparts. The invention includes a pulley support engaged on an upper framemember and provided with a single securing device to clamp the pulleyarm in a selected angle of adjustment about its pivot and at the sametime clamping the pulley support securely to its frame member at thedesired longi* tudinal position of adjustment. The invention alsoincludes washers having spiral grooves parallel to each other onopposite sides adapted to ac operate with a clamping yoke fitting overa. Y- shaped or bifurcated clamp, one leg holding the pulley arm inadjusted position on its pivot and the other leg securing the Y-.-clam'p in adjusted position longitudinally of the frame. In place ofsuch washers or areas, plates formed with radial grooves may be used forfirm clamping action. The clamping yoke may be a hard wood block tointerlockingly engage with the spirally or radially grooved clampingsurfaces.

-The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmeans for providing traction in the treatment of fractures.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a pulley wheel supportabove an invalid bed which has a single clamping element to lock thesupport at a selected longitudinal and angular position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knock-down frame forfracture treatment, having few parts and adapted to be readily appliedto" any invalids bed having side rails.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fracture treating framefor an invalids bed which may be securely clamped to the side railsthereof, and which, by means of a single longitudinal member and asingle clamping unit carrying a pulley arm, can position the pulley armlong-L tudinally and about an arcuate path to a selected position ofadjustment and lock the arm in'said adjustment by means of a singlesecuring olement, preferably through the use of locking Washers or areaswith interengaging ribs with ex tended frictional. contact with adjacentparts whereby relatively light clamping pressure will insurenon-slipping interengagement of the parts.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course ofthe following description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and means hereinafter fullydescribed. and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexeddrawings and the following description setting forth in detail certainmechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting,however,'but several of various forms in which the principle of theinvention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fracture traction device applied to aninvalid bed. with portions of thestructure cut away to illustrate theoperation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse view partly in section taken along the line 2--2, shown in Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of a clamping unitembodying the principles of the invention, and showing the use ofspecialiriction washers; I

Fig. 4 is a perspective viewof the frame struc-.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the use of afriction washer in firmly clamping a pair of wooden frame members;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified form of traction deviceembodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showings pair of mounting platesand an adjustable pulley support unit mounted on one of said'plates;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional .view showing the tensioningand adjusting device for the pulley support; and

Fig. 11- is an end elevation of one of the end support members of theframe. I i

As is shown more particularly inFigure 4, the I frame 1 comprises anelevated longitudinal member 2,. preferably of square cross-sectionhaving cylindrical end portions 3 secured in adjusted position by meansof bolts 4, said bolts also serv ing as fastening means for the endmembers of the frame. i

The end framemembers are formed of a pair of uprights 5, 6, at each end,said uprights being united in an inverted V-fo'rmation, and the uprights on each side being connected to each other by longitudinal sidemembers i, preferably'squarein cross-section, withcylindrical endportions 8 united to the lower ends of the uprights by means of bolts 9engaging transversely through each of said uprights. The side members 1are connected at points spaced from their ends by means of metalcross-bars or tie-rods I I which rest directly upon the side rails 12 ofa bed, and are held in clamped relation thereto by any suitable means,such as hand clamps l3. Slidingly engaged upon the elevated longitudinalmember 2 is a pulley supporting device for the traction cable, Thisstructure is shown enlarged in Figure 3 and is intended to permit thedevice to be clamped in any desired longitudinal position on the member2 and with any preferred angle in which the pulley supporting arm is setabout its pivot. The support is slidingly engaged upon the bar 2 betweenan upper plate 2| and a lower plate 22, said plates being secured by abolt 23 at one side and by one leg 24 of the clamping bolt 25. The otherleg 26 of the clamping bolt provides a pivotal support for the pulleysupporting arm 21 which carries at its lower end the pulley 28 overwhich the traction cable 29 engages.

The pulley supporting device is adapted to be released and clamped inadjusted position on the bar 2 as a unit by a tensioning device appliedto the shank 3| of the bolt. The extreme end portion is threaded toreceive an internally threaded clamping wheel 32, which bears against awasher 33 seated against a central abutment 34 on a yoke locking block35, which may be of hard wood, if desired, which provides a housing forthe legs 24, 26, of the bolt 25 and provides pressure surfaces 36, 31,for clamping pressure against the upper plate 2| and also against thepulley supporting arm 21'. A washer 38 of high friction- 91 capacity ispreferably positioned between each pressure surface of the yoke and theadjacent element.

It will be obvious that when the hand wheel 32 is tightened both theslide and the arm will be locked in their adjusted position. Thus, whena fracture case is under treatment adjustment may be made or it may bereleased or changed with a minimum of attention to the clamping unit,permitting more time for handling the patient and arranging for the mostfavorable position for treatment of the fracture.

The friction washer 38 is of particular advantage where two structuralelements 4|, 42, of wood are to be firmly engaged with each other by abolt 43 or the like, as is shown in" Figure '7. It also has a highdegree of holding capacity as applied between wood and metal structuralparts, as in aircraft framing. Its use is also valuable to a. highdegree in uniting metal parts as heretofore described in connection withthe elements shown in Figure 3.

The washer itself is illustrated in Figures and 6 wherein each face isprovided with a spiral groove 44. This groove with the intervening ribs45 provides an angular frictional gripping surface of very great lengthand of progressively active looking action distinct from an adjacentspace on either side by reason of the spiral path of the friction areas.The spiral groove on one face preferably should run in the samedirection as on the opposite face, that is as viewed through atransparent body of the grooves it should be 'in' full parallelism. Thegrooves may also be formed to run in opposite directions.

Where the spiral thread on the washer is to be used on a certain type ofwood the shearing angle should be suited to the particular wood byarranging the spiral with the proper number of strains. The shearingangle is the angle between the perpendicular to the radius of the spiraland the tangent to the spiral at such point. It determines the shearstress and, in itself, is a function of the spiral. It is'to be notedthat the entire length of the spiral is effective and that under thepressure of the clamping bolt the spiral thread is forced firmly intothe wood fibres;

The construction shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, provides forsliding movement on the frame member combined with the adjustment of thepulley supporting arm, but in some types of injuries an angular orradial adjustment of the pulley arm around a vertical pivot permitsprovision for a direct tension on the fracture area to be arranged withgreater facility than where longitudinal sliding movement is providedwithout the change about a vertical pivot. In order to provide for thistype of adjustment without sacrificing the advantages heretoforedescribed the construction illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, inclusive,may be used.

As shown more particularly in Figure 8 the frame 50 comprises alongitudinal elevated frame member 5| supported on end members 52, 53,of inverted V-formation, each having a pair of uprights with shortvertical sections 54 at their low-- er end portions, respectively, toprovide adequate clearance from the mattress and other bed clothing. Theuprights may be hinged to each other at their upper ends 55 where theyprovide a support for the elevated longitudinal member 5| which is thesupport for the pulley supporting unit 56. The lower ends of the endmembers are preferably connected by side members 51 which have metalcross-bars or tie-rods 58 which rest directly on the side rails of thebed and are clamped thereto by suitable means, such as hand clamps 59.

The elevated longitudinal member 5| is provided at spaced intervals withlooking plates 6! centrally apertured to receive the the vertical leg 62of a Y-bolt presently to be described. With a suitable number of lockingplates along the longitudinal member-5| the pulley supporting unit 56may be spaced the proper distance from the tensioning harness 64 on thelimb under treatment so as to permit the tensioning cable 65 to besuitably guided along its path of movement to the weight 66.

The pulley supporting unit 56 has a body member 61 which may be made ofhard wood but which is preferably made of metal and which has a slot 68to receive the vertical leg 62and the horizontal leg 69 of the Y-bolt63. The shank 10 of the Y-bolt extends through an angular passageway Hand is screw-threaded to receive a tensioning wheel 12 hearing againstan inclined face 13 on the body member.

The horizontal and vertical faces l4, 15, on the body member when it ismade of metal, are provided with radial serrations, those on the bottomor horizontal face engaging complementary serrations on the selectedlocking plate 6! to which the unit is to be clamped, and those on thevertical face providing for the locking in adjusted position of thepulley supporting arm 13 which has complementary serrations at the end11 opposite the pulley 18 and a has a central aperture 19 engaging overthe horizontal leg 69 of the Y- bolt 63. Each leg of the Y-bolt isthreaded to receive an abutment nut 8|, 82, which bear, re-

spectively, against the longitudinal member and against the pulleysupporting arm in clamping relation when the tensioning wheel 12 isturned to simultaneously lock the unit in both radial and angularadjustment.

This facility of adjustment of the device is of much importance andpermits the positioning of the patient to the best advantage fortreatment.

The construction just described presents an appearance of lightness inview of the small size of the body member, but the unit is of extremelyrigid construction and is firmly held by the frame in adjusted positionso that dependable tensioning action on the fractured area is assured.

As has been indicated the frames are readily separable for easyportability but when assembled are very firm and rigid and are equal toheavy duty service.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of those explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a frameformed of end members supporting a horizontal member in elevatedposition above a bed, a pulley-supporting unit having a pivoted pulleysupporting arm, means for positioning said pulley-supporting unitlongitudinally on said horizontal member, and single operative means forlocking said arm against pivotal and bodily displacement.

2. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a frameformed of end members supporting a horizontal member in elevatedposition above a bed, a pulley supporting unit having a pivoted pulleysupporting arm, means for positioning said pulley-supporting unitlongitudinally on said horizontal member, means for positioning saidpulley-supporting unit .at a radial angle, and single operative meansfor locking said am against pivotal and bodily displacement.

3. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a frameformed of end members supporting a longitudinal member in elevatedposition above a bed, at least one radial locking plate positioned alongsaid member, a body mem ber having radial locking areas on two surfacesadjustably engaged on said plate, a pivoted pulley supporting arm havinga radial locking area adjustably engaged on said member, and singleoperative means for simultaneously locking said body member and said armagainst movement.

4. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising aknock-down frame adapted to be assembled and attached to the bed frame,a bar supported in elevated position longitudinally of the bed by otherframe members, a pulley supporting arm pivotally supported on said barin movable relation thereto, and means for locking said armsimultaneously against bodily and pivoted movement.

5. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a framesupported on the bed frame and providing a longitudinal member spacedabove the bed, a body member movably porting arm pivotally mounted onsaid tensioning member, and an operative unit for simultaneouslyapplying locking tension upon said body member and pulley supporting armto hold the same in a selected position on said longitudinal member.

7. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising aknock-down frame adapted to be assembled and supported on the bed frameside rails and providing a longitudinal member spaced above the bed, abody member movably engaged on said member in tensioning relation to abifurcated tensioning bolt forming part of said body member, a pulleysupporting arm pivotally mounted thereon, and mean for applying tensionto said bolt to lock said body member and pulley supporting arm inadjusted position.

8. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a framesupported onthe bed frame and providing a longitudinal member spacedabove the bed, a body member movably engaged on said member, an invertedY-shaped clamping bolt having one portion providing a tensioning elementfor said body member and another portion providing a pivot for a pulleysupporting arm, a yoke engaged with the shank of said clampin bolt andmean bearing against said yoke for applying clamping tensioning force oneach portion of the opposite end of said bolt unit.

9. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a framesupported on the bed frame and providing a longitudinal member spacedabove the bed, a body member movably engaged on said member, an invertedY-shaped clamping bolt having one portion providing a tensioning elementfor said body member and another portion providing a pivot for a pulleysupporting arm, a yoke engaged over said shank and slotted to rovide abearing surface around each of the divergent parts of said bolt, afriction washer with spiral grooves on each face interposed between theyoke and the adjacent bearing surface, and a tensioning member on saidshank to lock said arm against pivotal and bodily movement.

10. An apparatus for traction treatment of fractures comprising a framesupported on the bed frame and providing a longitudinal member spacedabove the bed, a body member movably engaged on said member, an invertedY-shaped clamping bolt having one portion providing a tensioning elementfor said body member and another portion providing a pivot for a pulleysupporting arm, a yoke engaged over said shank and slotted to provide abearing surface around each of the divergent parts of said bolt, afriction washer with spiral grooves in parallelism with each other oneach face interposed between the yoke and the adjacent bearing surface,and a tensioning member on said shank to lock said arm againstpivotaland bodily movement.

11. A pulley arm supporting unit for traction treatment apparatus forfracture comprising a bolt having a shank and two legs, a bar clampingstructure mounted on one leg, a pulley supporting arm mounted on theother leg, a yoke enaged on said shank and bearing against said bar andarm respectively, and a screw-threaded tensioning member engaged on saidshank for simultaneously applying tension to said bar and said arm.

EVERETT CHAPMAN.

